12 Most Expensive Colored Diamonds

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but they are also super-expensive gemstones. The most expensive diamonds are valued at several millions of dollars. A most expensive diamonds auction is understandably a pricey affair. In this article, we decided to focus on the most expensive coloured diamonds in the world. Twelve of the world’s finest and costliest diamonds feature on this list. We may not know the values of the top two entrants, but let it suffice to say that these are probably among the priciest gems in the business. Take a look at the most expensive coloured diamonds on offer.

1. Spirit of de Grisogono Diamond

Value: Unknown

Few diamonds can compete with the Spirit of de Grisogno Diamond in terms of size. Before being cut, this humongous black diamond was the largest in the world. Even now, this stunning diamond is the largest cut black diamond in the world. It weighs an incredible 312.24 carats. When it was mined, it was larger still at 587 carats. Currently, the Spirit of de Grisogono Diamond is set on a beautiful white gold ring. For company it has 702 smaller white diamonds that weigh around 36.69 carats. This one is unarguably one of the most expensive colored diamonds in the world.

2. Ocean Dream Diamond

Value: Unknown

The Ocean Dream Diamond is so-called because of its amazing Fancy Vivid Blue-Green color. This 5.5-carat diamond was found in the mines of central Africa and is a truly rare find. Even the most expensive colored diamonds in the world rarely bear such coloration. However, the Gemmological Institute of America studies this as-yet unvalued gemstone before concluding that its ocean blue color was formed naturally following million years of exposure to natural radiation.

3. Hope Diamond

Value: $250 million

The second most visited artwork in the world after the “Mona Lisa” is not a painting or a sculpture; it is a rare gemstone named the Hope Diamond. The third of our most expensive colored diamonds in the world is valued at an incredible $250 million and it sits amid high security at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. The blue-gray stone that measures in at 45.52 carats was discovered in an Indian mine in 1812. Since then the Hope Diamond has passed through the hands of such high-profile owners as Harry Winston, Pierre Cartier and Lord Francis Hope. The diamond is named after the latter gentleman. Despite its name, however, the Hope Diamond is believed to carry a curse that is alleged to be the cause of suicides among several of its owners.

4. Graff Pink Diamond

Value: $46 million

Two pink diamonds are regarded as the finest in the business. These are the Graff Pink Diamond and the Steinmetz Pink Diamond. Of these, the Graff Pink Diamond is estimated to be more expensive. The emerald cut diamond weighs in at 24.78 carats and is believed to be worth $46 million. Hence, it makes it to the fourth spot on the list of most expensive colored diamonds. Jeweler Harry Winston formerly owned the Graff Pink Diamond until it went up on for auction in 2010. English jeweler Lawrence Graff purchased this fine pink gemstone for a whopping $46 million. The Graff Pink made headlines for being the highest grossing jewel at an auction.

5. Steinmetz Pink Diamond

Value: $25 million

Some experts consider this the finest pink diamond ever found. The Steinmetz Pink Diamond was first revealed to the public in May 2003. Actor Jenna Elfman did the honors of showing off this beautiful 59.6-carat diamond at the high-profile “Splendor of Diamonds” exhibit at the Smithsonian. The Steinmetz Pink Diamond is classified as Fancy Vivid Pink and is worth an estimated $25 million. At the exhibition, Elfman said of the diamond, “I can feel the beauty on my chest. You can feel the physical vibrations.”

6. Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond

Value: $24.3 million

The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond is several centuries old. One of the oldest most expensive colored diamonds on this list, the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond was discovered in India in the mid-17th century. At the time, the diamond weighed 35 carats. This Fancy Deep Blue Diamond has been part of the Austrian and Bavarian crown jewels, but is now much smaller than when it started out – weighing about 4 carats less. English jeweler Lawrence Graff carried out extensive refashioning after he found the gem to be chipped around the edges. He promised to bring it back as a far more beautiful stone.

7. Heart of Eternity

Value: $16 million

The famous Heart of Eternity has been classified as a Fancy Vivid Blue diamond. This amazing gemstone was found in the mines of South Africa and weighs an impressive 27.64 carats. In January of the year 2000, this seventh most expensive colored diamond was unveiled as the Millennium Star. Since then, the Heart of Eternity has moved into a private collection. At present, the blue diamond is valued at $16 million.

8. Sun-Drop Diamond

Value: $10.9 million

This beautiful diamond is one of the latest entrants to make a place for itself among the twelve most expensive colored diamonds. This 110.3-carat diamond was discovered in South Africa as recently as 2010. In November 2011, the Sun-Drop Diamond sold for over $10.9 million, a price that cemented its place among the most expensive colored diamonds. Since the diamond has no previous owners, the buyers of this expensive yellow diamond can spend some happy hours thinking up a name for this beauty. The lack of previous owners also means that the Sun-Drop Diamond’s value increases.

9. Flawless Blue Diamond

Value: $9.5 million

A furious bidding battle at a Sotheby’s Geneva auction in the year 2009 pushed the final selling price of this flawless blue diamond to $9.5 million. It is believed that the winning bidder (who was bidding over telephone) fought for this diamond over fifteen minutes. The $9.5 million sale price set two records – first, it was the highest price fetched by a blue diamond at an auction; and second, it was the highest per carat amount ever paid for any gemstone (not just diamonds) at an auction.

10. The De Grisogono Green Diamond

Value: $7.3 million

This beautiful diamond has the power to convince any beauty to accept the advances of a suitor. The de Grisogono Green Diamond is the crowning glory of a stunning white gold ring that is surrounded with black diamonds worth seven carats. The de Grisogono Green Diamond is a rare pale green diamond. The only other diamond that can rival this beauty is the 41-carat Dresden Green, which is on display at the Dresden Castle in Germany. The de Grisogono Green Diamond is a cushion-cut gem measuring 25 carats. In December 2006, jewelry house de Grisogono offered this rare gem on sale.

11. Moussaieff Red Diamond

Value: $7 million

The Moussaieff Red Diamond has many distinctions to its name. Not only is it No. 11 among the most expensive colored diamonds, but it is also the largest Fancy Red Diamond in the world. Weighing in at 5.11 carats, this stunning red stone bears a triangular brilliant cut. First discovered in Brazil during the 1990?s, this precious stone was once referred to as the Red Shield Diamond. The rarity and rich color of this high quality diamond made it a perfect fit for the prestigious “Splendor of Diamonds” exhibit at the Smithsonian in the year 2003.

12. Pumpkin Diamond

Value: $3 million

Completing this list of the most expensive colored diamonds is a 5.54-carat beauty from the house of Harry Winston. The famous Pumpkin Diamond was first discovered in the year 1997. Ronald Winston was canny enough to purchase the jewel for $1.3 million. The Gemmological Institute of America has classified this colored diamond as Fancy Vivid Orange. The name “Pumpkin Diamond” is an ode to Halloween; Winston purchased this most expensive colored diamond on the day before Halloween. The Pumpkin Diamond had its moment in the limelight when Halle Berry wore it to the Oscars in 2002 – the same year that she picked up the Best Actress award for “Monster’s Ball”.